SM SELEMATSELA

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SM SELEMATSELA

WHERE I KNOW FROM

20 May 2024, 18:54 Publicly Viewable

SM SELEMATSELA 53219988

I know from a Southern province, Limpopo a place where the Bapedi culture falls under. I grew around a grandmother who adores our culture and tries to keep it alive. The concepts engraved in the Pedi ethnic groups tapestry of its cultural teachings and beliefs have had a significant role in my life ever since I was brought about. These concepts and beliefs have provided me with different perspectives as they helped in navigating the world we live in. These lessons where passed down from one generation to another and growing up I was told that they act as a force of guidance, for instance, molding us to being what is required in the culture. And it's safe to say these things have molded me to the person I am today.

One of the most unique things I was educated about in the Bapedi culture is the "Rainmaker'', the Rainmaker is an important figure in the Pedi group. They are often valued for their ability to bring rain during dry seasons, they are believed to have spiritual connections along with power that enables them to communicate with the ancestors and forces of nature, which influences the weather pattern the people whom were chosen and nurtured from birth to become a rainmaker are known as  Moraka who was taught by an elder Moraka , which means rain making doctor, this highlights the importance of nature and spiritual affairs in the Pedi group. The Pedi culture places a strong emphasis on community and working together for the common good, which can be seen through, social gatherings and farming, it was believed that when the Rainmaker was summoned to bring the rain, the reason for a drought would be caused by conflicts amongst the community so they were required to come together and resolve their conflicts so that the ritual will be a success. Which highlights the importance in communalism and cooperation within the group.  

The second aspect within the Bapedi ethnic group is ancestral veneration, although there are other ethnicities that also do ancestral worshiping, the Pedi group does it differently, this includes, offerings and prayers directed to the ancestors to seek their guidance and blessings. Some of these rituals are done by slaughtering an animal for instance a goat or a cow as a piece of offering this ritual is called "go phasa'' during this ritual, they can do this for weddings, funerals or gatherings, the most important figure family member called kgadi, presents the African traditional beer made from different types of sorghum and serves it to the elders, only she can make and present it, no one else.

When we need to talk to our ancestors, some may use the African traditional beer while some use snuff, and it is believed that the ancestors can come to you via the spiritual powers and gift you with strength to heal an individual by the use of bones, also known as ditaola.

My perspectives were greatly influenced by my culture, the Bapedi culture, it entailed a strong sense of cultural pride. I learned how to go about life challenges and how to gracefully embrace my identity, enabling me to make contributions to the world around me.

 

 

REFLECTING ON MY NETWORKS

20 May 2024, 11:42 Publicly Viewable

SM SELEMATSELA 53219988

 

I sit around thinking about the complex web of relationships that have been woven through my life, its somehow filled with diversity, and by the center of all of these networks lies all my family connections, the blueprint of which my social is world built by.

Having to live with my grandmother, aunt and mother through my entire life, provided me with a unique perspective regarding family bonds. My grandmother, who is filled with wisdom and life experiences, serves as a steady guiding force in my life. Her unconditional love and unwavering support are the things I love most about her.

Then there's the women that gave me life, my mother, the ''epitome of strength and resilience'' as my family would say. Despite facing her own challenges, one being a single mother, she has made sure that she is there for me, offering her words of encouragement and a shoulder to lean on. It is safe to say that our relationship has evolved over the years, from that of a dependent child to that of a friend.

And there was my aunt, the women who was like a second mother to me, she provided me with love and support, taught me how to bake and cook. The presence of my beloved aunt who played a significant role in shaping my values was one of the strongest pillars in my life. Despite my aunt's unfortunate passing due to cancer, her lessons on being generous and empathy will continue to live on, inspiring me to give graciously and receive with gratitude.

But beyond the walls of our home lies another dimension of my family network, my father and stepmother, who reside in another province. While physical distance may separate us, our bond remains strong, despite the heated arguments and misunderstanding each other, we try to make a conscious effort to stay connected through phone calls and if lucky visits once every 1 to 2 years.

Within the confines of moving to a completely new province for university, miles away from my family, this expanded my social network including, friends, classmates, lectures. These relationships are in some sort of way characterized by shared interests, mutual support, and exchanging ideas. From late night studies with my friends to breathtaking adventures, my friends are an essential part of my university experience, they provide laughter and a sense of belonging.

Looking at all my networks, I have realized the importance of each connection and the roles these connections play in shaping who I am, from unconditional love from my family to companionships of friends, these relationships provide me with a sense of belonging and support that improves my life in countless ways. Through these relationships/networks, I am constantly reminded of the great power that is possessed through human connections and the importance of sharing our lives with others.

 

Michelle Selematsela

20 Apr 2024, 18:14 Publicly Viewable

A day in my life

My room comes to live as the first rays of morning peek through the window, my alarm clocks a gentle tune taking me out of my sleep and reverberates through the quiet of the morning. I Strech my limbs and let out a drowsy yawn, enjoying the comfort of the warm blankets cocooning me in their warmth.

A shudder runs up my spine as I sit up and feel the cool tiled floor beneath my feet. The air is filled with the aroma of freshly baked muffins, bringing back memories of my mother's early morning backing hobbies. A flip of the switch drives the remaining darkness out of the room and fills it to light.

I then continue to go brush my teeth, then take a warm 30-minute shower. after a solid hour after wakening up, I wear my go-to pants and a warm emerald, green sweater, went to my kitchen to the smell of coffee brewing and bacon crisping. My roommate and I enjoyed the wonderfully made breakfast she made for us before I went on about my day. As I stepped out into the clear morning air, as I look over my shoulder, my walk to campus was accompanied by a few guys dressed all in purple, for a minute I thought it was the Teletubbies. Before class, students linger around the amphitheater or cafeteria creating a lovely atmosphere. As soon as I entered the lecture hall, I was immediately surrounded by a hive of buzzing students, As I take my seat my seat at the back, the lesson began. Before I knew it the lesson was over and got excused to go home.

Michelle Selematsela 53219988

9 Mar 2024, 22:29 Publicly Viewable

 

Gowing through the humorous instances given by Wainaina in ''How to write about Africa'' and Horace Miners ''Body ritual among the Nacirema'' alongside the TEDTalks by Ngozi, has been eye-opening. As I read along these lines ,i got to reflect on the assumptions I had towards how being positive and negative could contribute to ''otherness''.

A stereotype that I have become aware of, is the proclivity to glorify certain societies depicting them as exotic or primitive. This reflects on Wainaina's analysis of western portrayals of Africa as a monolithic mainland. I've realized that by portraying a culture, it will lead to preserving a negative story resulting in taking away humanity from other people.

Despite everything I've discovered a tendency of labeling certain groups based on superficial qualities. Miners' satire of western anthropological studies reminded me of how easy it is for humans to follow systems that views foreign customs through views of superiority, highlighting the dangers of subjecting people to stereotypes, and not identifying their individuality.

Ngozi's TEDTalk regarding, the wrongness of telling one-sided stories, elevated the thought that our perceptions could be sculptured by the stories we read. Seeking more diverse perspectives would be helpful when it comes to encountering beliefs. 

In conclusion I've learnt to be more aware of the influence that comes with stereotyping and stigmatizing other people's insight. And in order for me to build an empathetic environment I'll  have to acknowledge the challenges we face to rule out ''othering''.